Monday, April 23, 2012
Somtimes you have intentions, and then other things happen, like this post.
Oh dear, they've changed blogger again. I haven't written for quite sometime, so serves me right, I suppose.
Today I ran 14 kilometers. It was long. It was hard at times. But it was wonderful. There is something so euphoric when you're running, you're listening to a good tune and the air smells like blossoms and spring. Joy filled my heart. Moments like those, I don't even notice the fact that I'm actually running, that part is almost a side note. 14 k may not seem like that big a deal, but I have never been a long distance runner, and so the fact that I can do it is quite a feat for me. About half way through my run, I decided to veer off the road into a park that has trails. I heard it was a good place to run. So I ventured down the path. It gave the option of going across the bridge to run on the other side of the creek. I took it. There was a sign that said the trail ends in 2km. I kept going. The trail turned narrow, rocky , windy and undulated with hills. I kept following it, thinking that at some point it had to have another bridge going back across. Meanwhile, on the other side of the wide rolling creek was a flat appealing path that had benches and other runners and walkers enjoying it. I wanted on that side. Finally, when the path turned into a narrow rocky ledge on the side of the creek, I gave up and turned around. I had to go all the way back to the bridge. I did enjoy running along the creek, and I intend to go back again, but stay on the right side of the creek, you know, where civilization is? Stuff like that always happens to me. I think it's because I'm a Clarke.
I didn't start this post with the intent to tell you all about my run, but it happened.
It was nice to start the week out that way, after a wonderful fun filled, spiritually uplifting weekend. My wonderful sister Andrea kept my kids, and Kyle and I took off after his final exam (it was a long and grueling two weeks) and we took off for Vancouver. We arrived just in time to help mom and dad with their move. Anyone remember those GIANT storage cabinets that Dad made for Mom out in the carport??? Loading the truck included getting those in. I watched at that point. We came back to Jordan and Tracy's where we were staying and had an amazing dinner that tracy whipped up (baked chicken curry pasta with cheese on top, baked zucchini in a tomato sauce with feta, and salad. It really hit the spot. Basically, Laura and I completed the tasks that Mom asked us to do in a timely fashion, while Jordan and Kyle who later earned the nicknames doobs, and dudly-whopper-deluxes due to sluggishly comparing their cell phones and asking us to bring them the larger items, like mom and dad's bed and bed frame and headboard. They wanted to stand outside and visit while we labored in the house bringing it to them. We ended up dumping stuff over the side of the balcony to them. At one point Jord said he wasn't going to take the frame that were barely holding onto while it was dangling over the deck. "Dad, they called us Doobs," he protested. He tried to make us take it back. Laura wouldn't, she's good at being stubborn that way. However, she wasn't the one hanging onto the metal frame that was beginning to slip from my fingers. So I took it back. I didn't mean it though. You can say things and not mean them, you know? Still Laura gave me a hard time for giving in. In my mind I didn't give in, I just said what he wanted to hear. As usual we stayed up too late talking and went to bed.
I also didn't start this post with the intent to tell you all about the whole weekend, but it started happening and so I kind of have to keep going at this point, don't I?
Saturday morning we got up around 8. It was nice to ignore all kid sounds and relax because they weren't ours. We lazed in bed and watched the results show for American Idol. Just as that was finishing Jordan and Tracy came in with a bowl of popcorn. We helped ourselves. One thing I like about Jordan is when I'm visiting he treats me special. Well, Tracy's pretty good at that too. I did the ol' lop off of Tracy's hair. Got her styled and then realized I'd better get ready for the temple. When I came out waffles were ready. Tracy apologized for the lack of toppings. I had butter and sugar and cinnamon and a strawberry sauce that Tracy made. It was so good. No need to apologize!
At the temple we went to the Spanish session. It was packed. Laura, Katie and I had to sit on the mens' side. It was hot. But it was really good to be there, especially with Kyle. We needed it. It was also nice to see so many people I know from Nanaimo.
The plan was to get lunch after. The plan was to get lunch with Katie and Brent and then go out for a date with Doug and Delanie, Jordan and Tracy, Esther and Laura. But the plan had it's flaws. We got out of the temple later because it started later. Then Brent was fumpfering. Then there was talk of where to go. Olive Garden was decided. I had heard that it was close to the temple. But the traffic was bad. By the time we got there and ordered it was almost four o clock. Kyle and I ordered a couple appetizer plates. I knew it was getting close to the time we were going to be eating dinner so I didn't intend to eat a lot. But that never works when the food is so good and its sitting right in front of you begging you to eat it. It was sooo good.
We got back to Jordan and Tray's stuffed and just in time to go out for our date. We couldn't agree on where to go. Kyle had his heart firmly set on a Korean place in Vancouver that he'd been to before and said it was really good. No one wanted to drive that far. We agreed to try out a different Korean place in Surrey. Problem was once we got there we realized it was closed down. Back to square one. I don't know if you know but getting a bunch of Clarkes to agree on something in a timely fashion is a challenge. We finally agreed on Japanese. It was really good, but I was still full from my previous meal. Luckily some of the indecisiveness took time and gave me a chance to digest. Laura and I shared as we have been known to do, and this allowed for Kyle to go all out on his raw fish desires. On the way home we stopped for ice cream. This is when I phoned Andrea and found out that my monster number two had woken her up at 3am and she was unable to fall back to sleep. Guilt ensued.
We talked for a while and then Doug and Delanie left because, let's face it, she just had a baby and she was exhausted. After the left Jordan served up the ice cream. We had maple walnut and wonderbar. Kyle recently told me that ice cream has beaver anus in it and you couldn't tell because it was listed under natural flavourings and it's called castoreum. I told him that it sort of wrecked my ice cream experience. That opened the discussion and had people looking things up about it online. Also, due to the late hour we were laughing pretty hard at things like who figured out that you could use beaver anus to flavour ice cream?? I should clear up one thing- it's only for Vanilla (don't ask, I don't know why) but it still sort of grossed me out anyway. Laura left, Jordan and Kyle went to bed and Tracy and I were left up talking about mothering philosophies and when to have our next children. That's right, Tracy's not done.
At choich on Sunday, Maria sat beside me. Then Jane basically sat on top of her and squeezed her out so that she was beside me. I made Kyle move over and sat in the middle. Maria drew me these really cute pictures of things that happened during my visit and also of some situations I told her about happening with my kids. She's a really good artist. She gave it to me to remember my trip. Jane played tic tac toe with me for a long time. She's actually pretty good at it. We usually tied. It was nice to be able to enjoy my nieces and nephews without having the distraction of my own children. I forgot what that was like. The sacrament speakers finished early, so Jordan got up to say a few words. He was looking on his phone for a specific scripture and was having trouble finding it. There was a period of silence. Then an old woman in the front row said loudly "We're waiting Bishop!" Everyone laughed. Jordan thanked her and said sometimes he can't tell if it's her talking to him or the Holy Ghost, they sound the same. Everyone laughed more.
After choich we rushed home and got changed and said out good byes and we were off. I'm so thankful. I have such a wonderful family who loves me and who do kind things for me (Andrea) and there's a certain kind of peace and joy that fills me up when I get to spend time with them, and get to know their children better, and just catch a glimpse of their lives.
I really wasn't intending to put this much effort into a post, but it happened.
5 comments
Sarahstottle posted @ 8:01 PM
Sunday, April 01, 2012
Geneial Conference and other things
This morning while I was in the shower, Sloan opened the door and said in a strong voice, "Mommy, I'm very angry at YOU!" When Sloan decides to be mad at me, I can't help but laugh. Sometimes he tells me I'm not his friend anymore. My response is usually "ok" and then he immediately feels bad and says "Actually, you are my friend" It never lasts. That kid. He loves me so much. He needs to know where I am all the time. If I'm sitting on the couch, he makes sure he's snuggled right next to me and he lays a warm chubby hand or foot on my arm or leg. If I'm making dinner, he climbs up onto the counter and tries to help me. If I'm going for a run, he has to make sure that he hugs me fiercely and gives me a kiss. If I wait too long to leave after he does this, I have to do it again, and he always watches me go and waves from the window. Sometimes he's waiting there for me when I get back.
Adriel calls General Conference Geneial conference. He can't say general He has been looking forward to it all week, asking me how many days are left and things. Why? Because we make dough boys for conference. I had no idea food would make the event so exciting for him, but I'm glad we have traditions that he looks forward to.
The other day, I went to pick Adriel up from school. We had to wait until Alexa, one of the little girls I take care of was done her preschool, so we had some time to play outside at the school. Usually I just sit on the bench and do my own thing while he plays tag with his friends. This time he wanted to talk to me. We talked about songs. He asked me if the songs were real or pretend. I asked him what he meant. He said "like is the guy really in love with a girl?" and I said yes. He thought that was sort of strange. So I told him a long time ago I fell in love with Daddy. And he said, "You loved each other so much that you wanted to get married?" "Yes" He thought for a second and then said quietly "I wish I could marry you...I guess I'll marry Gabriella"
"Gabriella?"
"yeah"
"Why Gabriella?"
"Cause, I like her...and I think she's pretty"
"What about Mikayla?"
"Mikayla? She's my girlfriend, I can't marry her"
Ha ha, alright then. My kids make me laugh.
4 comments
Sarahstottle posted @ 8:45 AM